WFMU Presents Special Concert Today at Ace Hotel

Unfortunately, night 2 of the Ponderosa Stomp is cancelled due to
Tropical Storm Nate and the mayor's mandatory curfew. However, WFMU is
presenting a special show at the Three Keys venue starting at 1pm in
the Ace Hotel New Orleans featuring Guitar Lightnin' Lee, Los
Straitjackets, Johnny Knight, Evie Sands, and the Mummies in a
pass-the-hat event 

Statement from the Ponderosa Stomp in regards to Tropical Storm Nate

The Ponderosa Stomp’s Friday concert will continue as scheduled (lineup and timing below). In accordance with Mayor Landrieu’s mandatory 6pm curfew, Saturday’s concert has been cancelled.

Any Saturday tickets will be redeemable for Friday night entrance as well. Those who hold a ticket for both nights may use their passes on Friday night to bring two people to the show instead of one person for two nights (and will not receive refunds, if they do so); put simply, a two-night ticket for one person can now be used as a Friday ticket for two people.

We will provide Saturday ticket refunds and will have specifics on that as soon as possible. Two-night ticket holders will be provided a half refund. Friday night tickets will also be available at the door. Ticketmaster refunds will be handled by Ticketmaster.

The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation appreciates its fans, panelists, and artists, especially those who traveled long distances to get here.

Friday night schedule

7:20 - 7:50 Billy Boy Arnold

7:55 - 8:30 Swamp Pop Revue featuring T.K Hulin & G.G. Shinn

8:40 - 9:00 Warren Storm

9:00 - 9:30 Willie West

9:30 - 10:00 Winfield Parker

10:10 - 10:40 Barbara Lynn

10:40 - 11:10 Archie Bell

11:10 - 11:40 Roy Head

11:50 - 12:30 am Doug Kershaw

12:40 - 1:40 Roky Erickson plays the 13th Floor Elevators

1:50 - 2:30 The Gories

Fans with other questions can contact info@ponderosasastomp.com and we will respond following Friday night’s concert.

NEW ORLEANS PONDEROSA STOMP ADDS SOUL AND R&B LEGENDS DON BRYANT, CARLA THOMAS AND CHARLES CONNOR PERFORMANCES

MUSIC HISTORY CONFERENCE ANNOUNCED WITH INTERVIEWS, PANELS, ORAL HISTORIES & MORE

The Ponderosa Stomp has added “legend” (NPR) and Queen of Memphis Soul Carla Thomas; Fat Possum and recording artist Don Bryant, who released a “marvelous” (Rolling Stone) new album ‘Don’t Give Up On Love;’ Thomas has been back in the spotlight with her hit song “B-A-B-Y” prominently featured in the film Baby Driver, but rarely known to make public performances. Bryant, songwriter for Solomon Burke, Albert King and wife Ann Peebles’ hit “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” saw his new album “Don’t Give Up On Love” earn praise from the likes of NPR Music, Rolling Stone, Paste, Uncut, MOJO, and more. Thomas and Bryant join already announced headliners Gary U.S. Bonds, Roky Erickson playing 13th Floor Elevators songs, The Mummies, Barbara Lynn, Roy Head, and Doug Kershaw, among others at the two-night concert October 6 and 7 at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans, LA.

Spotify playlist of Ponderosa Stomp performers, including new additions: https://play.spotify.com/user/ponderosastomp/playlist/2ptcXdd2KlAA3ZVaxA9IU4

Ponderosa Stomp 2017 teaser video (OK to share): https://vimeo.com/226954586

The Ponderosa Stomp Music History Conference has been finalized October 5th and 6th at Ace Hotel New Orleans. It includes in-depth interviews with Carla Thomas and her sister Vaneese, “Tighten Up” soulman Archie Bell, Louisiana Cajun rock & roller Doug Kershaw, “Quarter to 3” hitmaker Gary U.S. Bonds, and a tribute to Norton Records’ late Billy Miller. It will also delve deeply into the untold stories behind records by Little Richard, Ray Charles, Allen Toussaint, Rufus Thomas, Presley, and other greats.

Also recently added to perform at the Stomp concert are Vaneese Thomas, sister of Carla and daughter of rock & roll DJ and rhythm & blues player Rufus Thomas; Charles Connor, original drummer for Little Richard and creator of the “Choo Choo Train” stick style.

Bios on all Stomp performers: http://www.ponderosastomp.com/concert_2017.php

Tickets and more information are available at http://PonderosaStomp.com

2017 Ponderosa Stomp Music History Conference Schedule

THURSDAY OCTOBER 5TH

10:00 - 10:45 am
Bourbon Street Parade: A Look at Bourbon Street Clubs in the 60s
Featuring “Wacko” Wade, George Porter, Jr. and Moderator David Kunian
Bourbon Street’s musical past is easy to lose in the glare of neon lights and fluorescent drinks. A
close look reveals that the tourist attraction was a vital source of work and a training ground for
the Crescent City’s rhythm and blues artists. From his drum kit behind Freddie Fender and others,
“Wacko” Wade Wright saw the strip transform from District Attorney Jim Garrison’s vice raids
through the passage of civil rights legislation in the 1960s. The incomparable bassist George
Porter, Jr. played in the house band at the Ivanhoe six nights a week in the early years of
desegregation on Bourbon. When Allen Toussaint heard the group he brought them into the studio
and introduced the world to The Meters, who went on to become one of New Orleans’ most
celebrated acts. David Kunian, Curator of Music at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, leads the
conversation.
To explore this subject further, go to the “Bourbon Street Parade” tour on ACloserWalkNola.com ,
the interactive map of New Orleans music history. You can follow it on a desktop or on a mobile
device as you walk through the area.

11:00 - 11:45 am
The Gospel Truth of Rosemont Records
Featuring Al Taylor, James Williams, Andrew Jackson and Moderator Brice White
This panel will examine the history and importance of Rosemont Records, which released gospel
and rhythm & blues records in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as one of the first New Orleans hip
hop records. Rosemont owner and engineer Al Taylor will be joined by James Williams, guitarist
and leader of The Electrifying Crown Seekers, and Andrew Jackson, leader of The Famous Rocks of
Harmony. Panel will be moderated by music historian, record producer, writer, and DJ, Brice White.

12:45 - 1:45 pm
South Rampart Street Stroll: The Music and Geography of South Rampart Street
Featuring Bruce Raeburn, Deacon John Moore, Richard Campanella and Moderator Jordan Hirsch
The office towers and parking lots on South Rampart Street in New Orleans today obscure its
remarkable history. Once brimming with honky tonks, dance halls, and shops, this strip was vital
both to the birth of jazz and the development of New Orleans R&B -- the neighborhood was home
to Louis Armstrong and, later, Professor Longhair. The story of “back o’ town” New Orleans, from
Black Storyville to Chitlin Circuit dances to barroom gigs by the likes of Roy Brown, traces the
emergence of the “New Orleans sound” in R&B. The sound would fill the nation’s radio waves and
jukeboxes after World War II, even while much of the neighborhood was bulldozed. Deacon John
Moore, bandleader of nearly fifty years and President of the New Orleans Musicians’ Union, will
share Rampart Street lore and discuss with Richard Campanella, author and geographer at the
Tulane School of Architecture and Dr. Bruce Raeburn, author and Director of Special Collections
and Curator of the Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University. Writer and advocate Jordan Hirsch
moderates.
To explore this subject further, go to the “South Rampart Street Stroll” tour on
ACloserWalkNola.com , the interactive map of New Orleans music history. You can follow it on a
desktop or on a mobile device as you walk through the area.

2:00 - 2:45 pm
I’ve Got Reasons: The Return of Mary Jane Hooper
Featuring Mary Jane Hooper and Moderator Neil Pellegrin
Mary Jane Hooper, née Sena Fletcher, is a favorite of record collectors. Called the "Queen of New
Orleans Funk" by some, she performed and recorded with such greats as Allen Toussaint, Eddie Bo,
Lee Dorsey, Wardell Quezergue, Willie Tee and the great James Black as her drummer. Although
most of her recordings were done at Cosimo Matassa's studio, she also recorded at other facilities
like Studio in the Country and Sea-Saint Recording studio. She recorded under the Scram, Power,
Power-Pac, and World Pacific labels and was part of the famed Triple Souls background singers
made up of herself, Inez Cheatham and Mercedes Morris who did background for such artists as
Johnny Adams, Lee Dorsey and others. Wanting to expand her musical wings, she toured with a
well-known rock and roll band called the "Q" in the 1970's. After leaving the music business, she
became a well-known and respected newscaster on WTIX-AM radio, Vice President of a local
advertising agency and a Senior Marketing Consultant for a nationwide telecommunications
company. She will be interviewed by WWOZ disc jockey and vinyl aficionado Neil Pellegrin.

3:00 - 3:45 pm
Willie Knows How: An Oral History with Willie West
Featuring Willie West and Moderator John Broven
Willie West has been making music for over 50 years. After putting together his first band, the
Sharks, as a teenager in Raceland, Louisiana, Willie recorded at Cosimo Matassa’s studio, worked
with such greats as Wardell Quezergue and Allen Toussaint, and released records on a number of
labels, including Rustone, Frisco, Deesu, Josie and Warner Bros. And all of this was before he was
lead vocalist for The Meters when they performed on Saturday Night Live. Willie will be interviewed
by the venerable John Broven , author of South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous and
Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans.

4:00 - 4:45 pm
It Came from Philly
Featuring Archie Bell and Winfield Parker, with Moderator Jason Hanley
Though Archie Bell was born in Texas and Winfield Parker is from Maryland, both artists are
celebrated exponents of the Philadelphia sound. While touring in support of “Tighten Up,” a number
one hit on both the pop and R&B charts, Archie & the Drells met Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff,
Philadelphia's leading songwriting and production team. Their partnership would produce classics
such as "I Can't Stop Dancing" and "(There's Gonna Be A) Showdown," which was later
re-invented by the New York Dolls. Winfield Parker was the flagship artists for Baltimore’s Ru-Jac
label before hooking up with Jimmy Bishop of Philadelphia’s soul station WDAS. From there, he
collaborated with Barbara Mason and charted with “S.O.S. (Stop Her On Site).” In his over 50-year
career he has worked alongside such greats as Little Richard, Otis Redding, and Ike and Tina
Turner. Moderating the discussion will be Dr. Jason Hanley , the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and
Museum’s Vice President of Education and Visitor Engagement.

5:00 - 5:45 pm
The RAM Records Story
Featuring Margaret Lewis, Alton Warwick, Roy “Boogie Boy” Perkins, V.J. Boulet and Moderator
Michael Hurtt
This panel shines a spotlight on the Shreveport label RAM Records. Alton Warwick, the co-owner
of RAM who built the label’s studio, will be joined by Margaret Lewis, a RAM recording artist,
producer, and award-winning songwriter; Swamp-pop pioneer Ernie Suarez , otherwise known as
Roy “Boogie Boy” Perkins ; and V.J. Boulet of Bobby & The Riff Raffs. Musician and musicologist
Michael Hurtt , who is currently at work on a book about Detroit’s Fortune Records, will moderate.

6:00 - 6:45 pm
Tales of A Louisiana Man: An Oral History with Doug Kershaw
Featuring Doug Kershaw and Moderators Deke Dickerson and Dave Stuckey
Doug Kershaw, the singer, songwriter and master fiddler known as the Ragin’ Cajun, has had an
extraordinary career. He was a regular on the Louisiana Hayride and a member of the Grand Ole
Opry before recording hits “Diggy Liggy Lo” and “Louisiana Man” – the latter being the first song
broadcast back to Earth from the moon by the Apollo 12 astronauts. His appearances on television
shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show , The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, and The Johnny
Cash Show brought Cajun music to a national audience. He will be interviewed by musicians Dave
Stuckey and Deke Dickerson.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 6TH

10:00 - 10:45 am
The Man Behind the Montel & Michelle Labels: An Oral History with Sam Montalbano
Featuring Moderator John Broven
Sam Montalbano, known in the music business as Sam Montel, has done it all. He ran Deep South
Studio in Baton Rouge and worked with artists such as The Boogie Kinds, Sugar Boy Crawford, and
Slim Harpo. He owned the Montel and Michelle record labels, putting out regional and national hits
such as Dale & Grace’s No. 1 “I’m Leaving It Up To You.” As a concert promoter, he brought national and international acts to Baton Rouge, including Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, and The Who. Montalbano will discuss his record labels and the South Louisiana music industry with John Broven , author of South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous and Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans.

10:55 - 11:50 am
Last Train from Kicksville: A Tribute to Billy Miller of Norton Records
Featuring Miriam Linna, Todd Abramson, James Marshall, Deke Dickerson and Moderator Michael
Hurtt
This panel will honor the late Billy Miller, described by David Fricke as “a collector and scholar of the raw, fundamental and unapologetic in rockabilly, R&B and garage punk who shared his knowledge and passions with the exuberant, addicting force of a true fan.” Miller, with Miriam Linna, founded Norton Records, which has been releasing important and often forgotten music for over 25 years, and was a heavy influence on the Ponderosa Stomp. Linna was the first drummer for the Cramps and later played with Miller in a band called the A-Bones. She is joined on the panel by James Marshall, a former New York Times critic and former owner of Lakeside Lounge in New York and Circle Bar in New Orleans; Todd Abramson, WFMU DJ and the former talent booker at Maxwell’s, the famed Hoboken, New Jersey nightclub; and Deke Dickerson, a musician, writer, and music historian. Musician and musicologist Michael Hurtt will moderate.

12:35 - 1:20 pm
Evie Sands Oral History
Featuring Moderator Sheryl Farber
Evie Sands made some of the finest blue-eyed soul singles of the '60s. A cult figure of vintage pop,
Sands was born in Brooklyn but came of age in Los Angeles, recording “Take Me For a Little While”
and “Angel of the Morning” before they became hits. She retired from performing in 1979 to
concentrate on writing and producing, but waged a triumphant comeback in the late '90s and has
been at it ever since. Sands will be interviewed by the Grammy-nominated producer, writer and
editor Sheryl Farber.

1:30 - 2:15 pm
Make it Sound Like a Train: An Oral History with Charles Connor
Featuring Moderator David Kunian
As the drummer in Little Richard’s band the Upsetters, Charles "Keep A Knockin’" Connor is
credited with introducing the hugely influential "Choo Choo Train" style – successive eighth notes
with a loud back beat – into the rock ‘n’ roll lexicon. He went on to drum behind legends such as
Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, and James Brown, who credited Connor with being “the first to put the
funk in the rhythm.” Fittingly, his drumsticks are on display at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame
Museum. Connor, a New Orleans native, was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in
2010. He will be interviewed by David Kunian, the Curator of Music at the New Orleans Jazz
Museum.

2:25 - 3:10 pm
Forever Young: An Oral History with Reggie Young
Featuring Moderator red kelly
You may not know his name, but you know his music: Reggie Young has appeared on over 100
chart hits, in multiple genres, in a career spanning more than 60 years. A guitar great, he appeared
on the Louisiana Hayride before moving to Memphis and recording with Hi Records’ Willie Mitchell.
In 1964, when the Beatles tapped Bill Black as an opener on their U.S. tour, Young, who was
Black’s guitarist, left the studio for the road. He went on to became a top session man in Memphis
and then Nashville, playing on hits for Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Neil Diamond, and Dusty
Springfield, among many others. Music archaeologist and blogger red kelly will talk to Young about
his extraordinary and influential life in music.

3:20 - 4:05 pm
Walking the Dog: Growing Up with the “World’s Oldest Teenager” Rufus Thomas
Featuring Carla and Vaneese Thomas and Moderator Andria Lisle
Carla and Vaneese Thomas, stars in their own right, will discuss growing up with their father,
Memphis R&B and funk pioneer Rufus Thomas, “the World’s Oldest Teenager.” The elder Thomas
had hits with “Walking the Dog” and “Bear Cat,” both recorded with Sam Phillips, as well as hits on
Stax Records such as “The Funky Chicken.” Carla Thomas, whose first duet partner was her late
father, has been hailed as the Queen of Memphis Soul since 1961, when her sweet, yearning ballad
“Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)” became a pop and R&B smash. One of the first essential signings at
Stax, she served up a string of hits throughout the ‘60s including “Let Me Be Good To You” and
“B-A-B-Y.” Vaneese Thomas cut two sizable R&B hits of her own in 1987, “Let’s Talk It Over” and
“(I Wanna Get) Close To You).” Her 2016 album “The Long Journey Home” was widely acclaimed.
Writer, curator, and musicologist Andria Lisle moderates.

4:15 - 5:00 pm
I Wanna Holler: An Oral History with Gary U.S. Bonds
Featuring Moderator Todd Abramson
Gary Anderson, better known as Gary U.S. Bonds, will look back at his storied and pioneering
career. In 1960 he recorded his first single “New Orleans,” which became a national hit. He followed
up with the even bigger hit “Quarter To Three,” which inspired Dion and the Belmonts’ “Runaround
Sue.” After years of touring with artists like B.B. King and recording additional albums, Gary left his
record label but continued to perform. A chance meeting in New Jersey led him back into the studio
in 1981 to record the successful “Dedication” album with Bruce Springsteen & Steven Van Zandt.
The record included the hit "This Little Girl," a song Springsteen wrote for Bonds, which brought
him back into the spotlight. Bonds will be interviewed by WFMU DJ Todd Abramson , the former
talent booker at Maxwell’s, the famed Hoboken, New Jersey nightclub.

FRESH FROM STANDING OVATION AT LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS, “MARVELOUS” (ROLLING STONE) SOUL SURVIVOR & FAT POSSUM ARTIST DON BRYANT ADDS AMERICANA FEST, EUROPEAN TOUR, PONDEROSA STOMP APPEARANCE, TAKE ME TO THE RIVER TOUR

Fresh from a packed house, standing ovation performance at Lincoln Center Out of Doors with Lincoln Center’s Jill Sternheimer calling him “incredible,” Fat Possum soul man Don Bryant will perform at a series of concerts, including as part of Americana Fest, the Ponderosa Stomp, the Take Me to the River tour, and a headlining European tour.

September 16 – 12th & Porter – Nashville, TN (Americana Fest, 9pm)
October 7 – Orpheum Theater – New Orleans, LA (Ponderosa Stomp)
January 25 – Carolina Theatre – Durham, NC (Take Me to the River tour)
January 26 – Jefferson Center – Roanoke, VA (Take Me to the River tour)
January 27 – Harbison Theatre – Irmo, SC (Take Me to the River tour)
January 29 – University of Florida Phillips Center – Gainesville, FL  (Take Me to the River tour)
January 30 – Florida Theatre – Jacksonville, FL (Take Me to the River tour)
February 3 – Parker Playhouse – Fort Lauderdale, FL (Take Me to the River tour)

Watch his video for "How Do I Get There?" shot in the Clayborn Temple, a landmark of the civil rights movement via NPR: http://n.pr/2loxNon

Backed by The Bo-Keys and produced by Scott Bomar and Bruce Watson, the new album ‘Don’t Give Up On Love’ (Fat Possum) has seen the “I Can’t Stand the Rain” songwriter earning reams of love:

“A formidable soul singer…inspired in every sense of the term.”
— NPR Music

“His voice remains marvelous…canonical, finely tuned Southern soul.”
— Rolling Stone

“’Don’t Give Up On Love’ is a joyous miracle. Whatever Don Bryant’s been taking, we could all use a dose.”
— Paste (8.7 / 10)

“A lively and supremely compelling singer.”
— Uncut (Four Stars ****)

“Bryant's vocal is rich and full on songs that are framed in exclamatory horns and soothing organ”
— MOJO (Four Stars ****)

“One pleasant and pleasing surprise.”
— AllMusic

Ponderosa Stomp 13 teaser - OK to share

Ponderosa Stomp 13 from Ponderosa Stomp on Vimeo.

Ponderosa Stomp artist bios (by Michael Hurtt unless noted)

Gary U.S. Bonds: Down The Mississippi, Down In New Orleans

What can you say about the beatific bombast that is Gary U.S. Bonds? The all time conquering barbarian of Beach Music, along with his sax-honking sergeant-at-arms Daddy G, stormed the Eastern shores beginning in 1961 with such dance hall war cries as “Quarter To Three,” “Twist, Twist Señora,” “Dear Lady Twist” and “School Is Out” — not to mention the shamanistic unreleased masterpiece “I Wanna Holler (But The Town’s Too Small.” And he’s bound to coup the room with Los Straitjackets laying down the sonic blast behind him.

From Houston, Texas, He Can Sing and He Can Dance, He’s Archie Bell

There’s Gonna Be A Showdown! Known for doing the “Tighten Up,” Houston’s Archie Bell will leave you slack-jawed with some of the sweetest soul sides ever to come out of Bayou City. Do whatever you gotta do to see this must-see show and remember Archie’s command that you can “dance just as good as you want.”

Mystical Harp Blues Master

The Blues: you dare not utter the word without mentioning the name Billy Boy Arnold within the confines of the same breath. Transcendent and mystical, Arnold is a snake charmer for the hips, a re-animater of the soul and a lyricist unparalleled, whose hypnotic harp drones and shamanistic rhythms will teleport you to the truth of this much-misunderstood musical art form. Like his former band mate Bo Diddley, Billy Boy helped draft the blueprints of the British Invasion with the stop-time “I Wish You Would,” which the Yardbirds promptly covered. But there’s no substitute for the original.

The Boogie Woogie Country Girl, Linda Gail Lewis

Linda Gail Lewis got her start singing magical duets with her old brother Jerry Lee, including the honky-tonk anthem “We Live In Two Different Worlds,” but her melancholic mayhem couldn’t be contained as a mere harmony singer, and she broke out on her own in 1969 with the Smash Records LP The Two Sides Of Linda Gail Lewis. From piano pounding rock ’n’ roll tempest to country soul chanteuse, Linda Gail Lewis is a stylist whose musical moods encompass all of the intertwining and bittersweet sounds of the South.

Willie Knows How

From the far-flung coastal towns along Bayou Lafourche to the musical boiling point of New Orleans, Willie West is an unsung hero of South Louisiana rhythm and blues if there ever was one. His earliest sides on the Rustone label, such as the smoking dance floor favorite “Willie Knows How” and the eternal swamp pop hit “It’s No Use To Try,” are just the beginning of a career that found him recording with Allen Toussaint, singing in Deacon John’s legendary Electric Soul Train and cutting the wistful funk classic “Fair Child” with the Meters, for whom he was also a vocalist.  

Warren Storm: King Of The Dance Halls

The Soul of the Gulf Coast and the Hardest Working Man In Swamp Pop,  Warren Storm is truly “Cajun Cool,” as he sung during one of his many career high points with Jo-El Sonnier. Along with fellow drummer Jockey Etienne, Warren was the back beat of J.D. Miller’s legendary integrated studio band in Crowley, playing drums on records by Slim Harpo, Lazy Lester, Rocket Morgan and his own 1958 hit “Prisoner’s Song.” His vocalizing continued throughout the sixties in the swamp rock ’n’ roll band the Shondells, formed with fellow South Louisiana star Rod Bernard, and he remains, to paraphrase another one of his hits, the “King Of The Dance Halls.”

Frankie Miller: True Blue Papa

“Well, I was born in a cave/ I was raised in a den/ My chief occupation’s taking women from the men/ I’m a true blue papa/ Gonna have a ball tonight…” When these lyrics came booming out of jukeboxes across Texas on the flip side of Frankie Miller’s hit “Black Land Farmer,” you knew you were hearing the penultimate in hillbilly music. Recording for the renowned Starday label, in “True Blue” Miller scored the imprint one of its biggest hits, and even more importantly, burned the honky-tonk ouvre into the minds of millions worldwide. The song wasn’t one of the best, it was the best.

Concentrated Texas TNT: Roy Head

The horns! The drums! The Screams! Stomping out of the Golden Triangle with one foot in Texas and one foot in Louisiana, the boss prophet of blue eyed soul hath but a single commandment: Treat Her Right! But beyond the explosive show stoppers, Roy’s quadruple threat musical DNA of country, soul, R&B and rock ’n’ roll was recently showcased through his son Sundance’s stunning performance on television phenomenon The Voice. Roy’s entire career is worth a deep dive, beginning with the Gulf Coast Grease of his early TNT sides, compiled masterfully by Norton Records on Live It Up!

That Driving Beat: Don Bryant and the Bo-Keys

Rising through the R&B ranks as the singer in Willie Mitchell’s band, Memphis’s multi-faceted Don Bryant has long been a favorite to soul insiders, and his coveted classics “Doing The Mustang” and “That Driving Beat” have filled dance floors and thrilled listeners for decades. A noted Hi Records songwriter, Bryant penned “Can’t Stand The Rain” for his wife Ann Peebles; John Lennon claimed it as his favorite record. Bryant’s brand new album with Memphis soul brothers and Stomp favorites the Bo-Keys is blowing minds coast-to-coast and worldwide.

Doug Kershaw: The Return Of The Original Louisiana Man

After a career that made him a fiddle-sawing country superstar, the swampland’s prodigal son returns to re-ignite the bayou fire which first took flame with Rusty and Doug’s Cajun rock ’n’ roll classics “Hey Mae,” “Love Me To Pieces,” “Hey, Sheriff” and “Louisiana Man.” It took a mind-melting meet-up with his illegitimate stepchildren Dave Stuckey and Deke Dickerson to convince Doug to revisit these trailblazing Hickory Records sides but there’s no stoppin’ ‘em now: stepping on the swamp gas, fiddle to the floor, like a streak of southern lightning and a bolt of bayou heat, these Cajuns will indeed rage!

Last of the Texas T-Bone Guitar Slingers: Roy Gaines

Direct from the T-Bone Walker school of Lone Star Guitar, Roy Gaines’ first exposure to show business came via his brother, Grady Gaines, noted sax player in Little Richard’s backing band the Upsetters. Roy started out doing sessions for Houston’s Duke/ Peacock Records before hitting the trail to Los Angeles where he became turban-wearing R&B star Chuck Willis’s band leader. Gaines cut his own wild rockers, “Skippy Is A Sissy” and “What Will Lucy Do” before backing artists as varied as Ray Charles and Billie Holiday and later even joining the Jazz Crusaders.

The Crying Man: Gee Gee Shinn

One half of the Boogie Kings’ powerhouse vocal duo the King Brothers (along with Jerry “Count Jackson” LaCroix), blue-eyed soul singer Gee Gee Shinn formed his first band, the Flat Tops, in Franklin, Louisiana in 1956. He joined the Boogie Kings in 1963, and — despite talented alumni such as Tommy McLain and Clint West — immediately became the true voice of this legendary and long-running Gulf Coast institution. The piece de resistance was the album Sam Montel Presents…the Boogie Kings, featuring Gee Gee at the helm of the band’s killer version of “Harlem Shuffle,” the heart breaking favorite “The Crying Man” and the bluesy “Devil Of A Girl,” penned by South Louisiana rocker Vince Anthony. The latter was coupled with the Kings’ Shinn-led treatment of Little Willie John’s “Fever” for a single, and became a huge influence on New Orleans garage band the Royal Pendletons three decades after it was first released. Aside from the Boogie Kings, Gee Gee did a stint with his own band the Rollercoasters on Huey Meaux’s Shane label that resulted in one single as well as a legendary album for Putt Putt Golf Courses in the early seventies on which he did all arrangements and played his first instrument, the trumpet. Nearly ageless, Shinn still possesses the sharp vocal verve and effortless intensity that he did when he was slaying the juiced-up teenage crowd (including a young Janis Joplin) at the Big Oaks Club in Vinton, Louisiana back in the early sixties.

Johnny Knight: The  Epitome of Hollywood Rock ’n’ Roll Cool From Outer Space

Like a blazing comet that scorches the earth every fifty years, Johnny Knight is as enigmatic as he is just plain rare. Appearing out of the shadows of time, he came, he went, and for a brief moment, he is here again. First appearing in 1959 with his blasting ode to the six string, “Rock ’n’ Roll Guitar,” he then vanished only to reappear as the mysterious frat rock phantom the Gamma Goochee Himself during the next decade. Simply not bound by the time/ space continuum of most mere mortals, it would be wise to catch Knight this time around or wait until 2057.  

Midnight Run: James Hand

A late bloomer with an early pedigree, James Hands’ roots were in the right place from the moment he stepped onstage at age twelve in 1964. His dyed-in-the wool brand of hard-edged Lone Star honky-tonk music — and poetic songs such as “Midnight Run” and “Don’t Depend On Me” — has built a devoted and cult-like fan base of artists and critics alike that includes fellow Texan Willie Nelson.

Darrell McCall: The Nashville Rebel

Darrell McCall arrived in Nashville from Ohio in 1958 along with his childhood pal Johnny Paycheck, then still known as Donny Young. Like Paycheck, McCall lent his flawless country vocal harmonies (and bass playing) to Lone Star State sons Ray Price and George Jones as well as Louisiana luminary Faron Young. After a brief foray into rock ’n’ roll with the Benny Joy-penned “Call The Zoo,” Darrell commenced a tour-de-force of honky-tonk brilliance that included standouts such as “This Old Heart,” “Excuse Me (I Think I Have A Heartache)” and “Fallen Angel,” singing the theme song for the countrified cinematic masterpiece Hud in 1963 and appearing in the low budget milestone, Nashville Rebel, alongside Waylon Jennings in 1965.

T.K. Hulin: The Bayou State Tearjerker

If most every great swamp pop song is about a man crying — and indeed they usually are —T.K. Hulin’s eternally epic South Louisiana smash I’m Not A Fool Anymore is a tear-shedding anthem. Backed by the mesmerizing simplicity of his band the Lonely Knights, Hulin delivers his lyrics in the key of heartbreak, just as he does on follow-up tearjerkers (As You Pass Me By) Graduation Night and That’s Why The End Must Begin. Hullin can also rock with the best of ‘em, as he proved with his first record “Little Bittie Boy” and his ‘80s coonass jukebox hit “Alligator Bayou.”

Barbara Lynn: Gulf Coast Guitar Queen The Soul of the Golden Triangle

Discovered by swamp pop king Joe Barry and recorded by his manager Huey “The Crazy Cajun” Meaux, only Barbara Lynn’s left hand can conjure up the mystical swamp mist that fills the room with sounds as sweet as southern starlight on a sultry southern night. With a wise-beyond-her-years songwriting style and Barry’s bayou-ruling band the Vikings behind her, Lynn laid down “You’ll Lose A Good Thing” at Cosimo Matassa’s French Quarter studio in New Orleans in 1962. She followed it with a musical avalanche of stirring sides that included the unforgettable groover “(Oh Baby!) We Got A Good Thing Goin,’” which was soon covered by the Rolling Stones and the intense minor-key dance floor killer “I’m A Good Woman.”

The Master of Reverberation, the Creature With The Atom Brain, the original Thirteenth Floor Elevator: Roky Erickson

From the moment fifteen-year old Austin, Texas rock ’n’ roll misfit Roky Erickson channelled Little Richard and James Brown though his telepathic teenage brain to come up with the primitive acid punk two-sider “You’re Gonna Miss Me” and “We Sell Soul” in 1965, something seismic shifted in the world of music. Released in tiny quantity with his band the Spades on Zero Records, this was truly a disc of epic proportions, from the wild careen of the harmonica, to the clanging reverb of the guitar chords, to the desperation of the vocals, to the transcendence of the screams. Forming the Thirteenth Floor Elevators with electric jug player Tommy Hall, the psychedelic shit-kickers soon arrived in Dallas to record their debut LP. Studio engineer (and former Louisiana Hayride sound man) Bob Sullivan was impressed: “Hell, I’d pay to see anyone play an electric jug!” Other instant devotees were Billy Gibbons and a flabbergasted Jerry Garcia. “Wow, you guys really do play on acid!” he exclaimed upon witnessing the Texas wild men in San Francisco. Their albums The Psychedelic Sounds of the Thirteenth Floor Elevators and Easter Everywhere are still blowing minds to this day, cutting across genres from punk to psychedelic to heavy metal. Having himself legally declared an alien, Roky hooked up with fellow Texas wild man Doug Sahm for the timeless 1975 single “Two Headed Dog”/ “Starry Eyes,” which pointed the way toward a singular output that included the unforgettable autobiographical cult classics “I Walked With The Zombie,” “Don’t Slander Me” and “If You Have Ghosts,” to name only a few! And the future lies unwritten…

Evie Sands: The Original Angel Of The Morning

“She’s got silver bells in her voice and you’d think she’s got electricity in her fingers the way she plays that guitar left-handed and upside down.” So said Johnny Cash of Brooklyn-born chanteuse Evie Sands, a singer whose oeuvre truly deserves reappraisal. Evie’s recording career started off on a promising note with producer/ songwriter Chip Taylor, and she was soon on the road with the Shangri-Las. A test pressing of her first single, “Take Me For A Little While,” was stolen, resulting in a cover version by Jackie Ross hitting the street before Evie’s original and garnering the lion’s share of airplay. Her next single, “I Can’t Let Go” was lost amongst the chaos and the Hollies’ cover version rose to the top of the charts. Finally, the Chip Taylor-penned “Angel Of The Morning,” had the misfortune of coming out just as Cameo-Parkway Records was going bankrupt and though the song was a radio hit, the records just weren’t available. Finally, in 1969, the stars aligned and Evie hit with Taylor’s “Any Way You Want Me.” A true unsung hero, Evie’s impressive discography goes well past the near-hits and near-misses, and contemporary Dusty Springfield has called Sands her favorite singer.

Winfield Parker: Mr. Clean

Originally a sax player in the Imperial Thrillers, Baltimore’s Winfield Parker was too good of a singer to sit at the back ground, but not before the group was handpicked by Otis Redding to go on the road with him. Moving to the front lines, Parker cut the rural R&B magnum opus “Rockin’ In The Barnyard,” following it up with a slew of singles on Ru-Jac and other labels, including the deep soul masterpiece “A Fallen Star” and the grinding dance floor salute to America’s favorite bald-headed back door cleaning man, “Mr. Clean.” Rising to the top of Parker’s formative recorded works is his biggest hit, a standout version of Edwin Starr’s “S.O.S. (Stop Her On Sight)” with Philly soul star Dee Dee Sharp singing background, but his deep and rewarding discography deserves full immersion.

The Mummies PIONEERS OF BUDGET ROCK are the founders of BUDGET ROCK! Their lo-fi stylings have resonated with thousands of fans worldwide, including the likes of Billy Childish and Jack White. For this year's Ponderosa Stomp they will be making their first ever appearance in the American South! The gauze covered wonders will be performing such "hits" as "(Your Ass) Is Next In Line", "(You Must Fight To Live) On The Planet Of The Apes" and "Stronger Than Dirt". They are brutal and savage and that is what their friends say about them!

-Todd Abramson

The Stompin' Riff Raffs JAPANESE MASKED INSANITY might be the wildest band we've ever seen! Come see A Man and Three Chicks wreak complete havoc! Their interpretations of Stomp approved wonders like Floyd Dakil, Ron Haydock and 2017 Stomp performer Johnny Knight are a sight to behold. Their originals are on par with the great rockers they cover. Hailing from Japan, The Stompin' Riff Raffs style and profile like no other!

-Todd Abramson

13th Annual Ponderosa Stomp poster

13TH PONDEROSA STOMP FESTIVAL SET FOR OCTOBER 6-7, 2017 AT NEW ORLEANS ORPHEUM FEATURING THE MUMMIES, GARY US BONDS, DOUG KERSHAW, THE GORIES, BARBARA LYNN, ARCHIE BELL, EVIE SANDS, TEXAS HONKY TONK REVUE AND MORE

ROKY ERICKSON TO PERFORM 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS REPERTOIRE

PONDEROSA STOMP CONFERENCE FEATURES PERFORMER INTERVIEWS, PANELS, FILMS, RECORD SHOW

OCT 5-6 AT ACE HOTEL NEW ORLEANS

“A party on its way to becoming an institution.”

— Jon Pareles, New York Times

[The Ponderosa Stomp] is this incredible multi-day event of the less familiar names from music history. It’s a labor of love. For the last 15 years, we have not missed one. ... The number of artists that you never thought you’d get to see, and then the people you hadn’t even heard about — it really is revelatory every time.”

— Ira Kaplan, Yo La Tengo

The thirteenth Ponderosa Stomp Concert will bring the forgotten heroes and heroines of rock ‘n’ roll, rhythm & blues, blues, garage rock, soul, and rockabilly to New Orleans for a two-night concert October 6-7 at New Orleans’ Orpheum (129 Roosevelt Way).

Here’s a Spotify playlist of artists performing at the 2017 Ponderosa Stomp: https://play.spotify.com/user/ponderosastomp/playlist/2ptcXdd2KlAA3ZVaxA9IU4

Artist photos and Ponderosa Stomp logos: http://nicklosseaton.blogspot.com/2017/05/ponderosa-stomp-artwork.html

It will feature many performers who rarely grace the stage:

+ Roky Erickson performing the music of his legendary psychedelic ‘60s band the 13th Floor Elevators

+ late ‘80s/early ‘90s garage rockers The Mummies

+ “Quarter To Three” hitmaker Gary U.S. Bonds

+ “Louisiana Man” artist and Johnny Cash Show guest Doug Kershaw

+ Detroit White Stripes antecedents The Gories

+ rhythm and blues great Barbara Lynn, who was covered by the Rolling Stones

+ Archie Bell of “Tighten Up” fame

+ father of “The Voice” Winner, Sundance Head, and “Treat Her Right” singer Roy Head

+ masked Japanese garage band, The Stompin’ Riffraffs

+ piano pounder Linda Gail Lewis

+ Little Richard, Otis Redding, Ike & Tina Turner sideman turned R&B Soul Singer Winfield Parker

+ a Texas Honky Tonk Revue Featuring Frankie Miller, Darrell McCall, and James Hand

+ the “husky, soulful voice” (All Music Guide) of Evie Sands

+ Chicago blues harmonica great Billy Boy Arnold, who was recently covered by JD McPherson

+ first generation rockabilly artist Johnny Knight

+ a Swamp Pop Revue Featuring GG Shinn, Warren Storm, and TK Hulin

+ Louisiana’s Lil Buck Sinegal and the Top Cats

+ T-Bone Walker acolyte and accompanist, Chuck Willis creative collaborator, and Ray + Charles sideman Roy Gaines

+ New Orleans rhythm and blues man Willie West

+ GRAMMY-nominated Yep Roc band Los Straitjackets

+ LA’s rockabilly masters Deke Dickerson and the Eccofonics

+ and Austinites Eve and the Exiles.

More acts will be announced soon as well!

The two-night must-see concert spotlights live performances by hall-of-fame-level artists who — though they never became household names themselves — influenced contemporaries like Elvis and the Rolling Stones and made hits that inspired musical giants from Prince to David Bowie to pick up instruments. They shaped the course of popular music, but haven’t had the exposure they deserve.

The Ponderosa Stomp Festival has often represented the first chance to see these types of artists do their classic repertoire in decades, as was the case when Howard Tate’s set lead to a late-career record deal and new touring. In other cases, it has represented the last chance to see an important act, as P.F. Sloan passed away some six weeks after his Ponderosa Stomp set led to a massive ovation. The stories behind the music are documented in a two-day conference October 5 and 6 at the Ace Hotel New Orleans.

Tickets are on sale today:

http://www.ponderosastomp.com/festival-information-2017.php

Travel packages are also available:

http://www.ponderosastomp.com/travel-packages-2017.php

The biennial Festival is the signature program of the Ponderosa Stomp Foundation, a New Orleans-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating the legacy, revitalizing the careers, and preserving the history of American music and musicians.

Ponderosa Stomp artwork

Above: Barbara Lynn, Roy Head, Lil' Buck Sinegal, credit: Kerri Mahoney Design

Above: Barbara Lynn, Roy Head, Lil' Buck Sinegal, credit: Kerri Mahoney Design

 Above: Gary "US" Bonds

Above: Frankie Miller

Above: Barbara Lynn by Joseph Rosen